LAUREL, MD. 01-18-14---Trevor McCarthy would have rather been at the Gulfstream Park today, attending tonight’s Eclipse Award ceremonies as a finalist for the outstanding apprentice rider. Instead, the 19-year-old was being honored at Laurel Park for being the leading rider at the major Maryland tracks last year.

McCarthy finished 2013 with 107 victories at Laurel and Pimlico Race Course. He ranked 12^th in the nation with 69 wins in early April when he broke his left tibia during training at Laurel and missed five months ruining his chance at the Eclipse Award. He finished fourth among apprentice riders in victories (140) and was third in earnings ($3,653,365) and narrowly missed being a finalist.

“I had a fantastic year. It’s a shame I broke my leg back in April,” McCarthy said. “I just want to thank the trainers and owners, my agent Scotty (Scott Silver), my family and friends for all the help they’ve given me.”

Hugh McMahon was also honored by the Maryland Jockey Club before Saturday ‘s sixth race. The 45-year-old captured the 2013 Laurel Park winter and fall titles and totaled 74 winners at the major Maryland tracks during the year.

“You got to give recognition to everyone,” McMahon said. “There are a lot of people involved from owners to good help in the barn and assistants. The barn is called God’s Glory Alone, that’s what we do it for.”

Victor Carrasco hopes to become the 10^th Maryland-based rider to earn the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice. The 21-year-old ended the year as the leading apprentice in North America in both wins (215) and earnings ($4,357,715). From November 13 through December 31, he rode at least one winner in 24 of the 28 live racing days at Laurel Park, including 16 multiple win afternoons.

Maryland-based apprentice riders have captured nine of the previous 42 Eclipse Awards for outstanding apprentice with Chris McCarron (1974), Ronnie Franklin (1978), Alberto Delgado (1982), Allen Stacy (1986), Kent Desormeaux (1987), Mike Luzzi (1989), Mark Johnston (1990), Jeremy Rose (2001) and Ryan Fogelsonger (2002) all being honored.

HOLIDAY RACING REMINDER

Laurel Park will conduct live racing on Martin Luther King day Monday afternoon. First post for the 9-race card is 12:35 p.m. Eighty-one horses are entered, including 13 in race 5 and a dozen in race 8.
 

FEBRUARY 14 ADDED TO LIVE RACING SCHEDULE

Laurel Park will be making up the live racing day lost last Saturday with a program on Friday, February 14.

The first eight weeks of the calendar year feature racing on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons plus Martin Luther King and Presidents’ days. Friday racing will be added to the schedule for the final five weeks of the winter meeting, beginning February 28.

About Laurel Park

Laurel Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.